BookIt.com® Verified Traveler JoAn Canning from South Burlington, Vermont

"The day we left we needed to be out of the room by noon....we were going to be picked up at 12:55 for the airport. Did we really need to be charged for lunch after staying the week in the all inclusive? When visiting our friends in the red level we were asked to leave the pool area unless we paid an additional fee for the day? Really?"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Richard Pagan from Colonia, No

"Although the all inclusive package was worth it because of the quality of the food, both the service especially the service in the Red Level ( which is what we paid so much money for in addition to the all inclusive package) was absolutely terrible. The lack and breakdown of communication beginning with the concierge at the Red Level lounge made our trip uneasy and uncomfortable. The sushi restaurant did not accept our names for the waiting list claiming there was no wait and because we were Red Level we would be bumped up if there was a wait. Yet, when we arrived they refused to seat us and said we would have to wait 1.5 hrs! We were told to call to reserve a spot at the pool 1 hr before and when we attempted to follow directions were told we were supposed to have made reservations 24 hrs in advance! We were not served anything , including Mimosas in the morning at the Red Level Lounge claiming these services were not included there but that we could go to the lobby lounge and get drinks and service ourselves! The pool bar claimed Havana club was not included with our package but Havana club was at Self Service at the lounge ( where we again had to get it ourselves and only in the evening!). We were not checked in and out by the Red Level Conciege as it claims and were told to go to the lobby to check out! The rooms are not worth what we paid for, tiny and not even the shower was large enough for two! The Red Level did not meet any expectations! The people at the red level were rude and not at all helpful. At the pool, the service was great, and at La Perla restaurant the service was outstanding. We would not go back but for those of you who want to take the chance DO NOT pay for the Red Level! It is not worth it! Do the all inclusive only!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Caleb SM from SAN PEDRO, CA

"Very poor customer service: Booked a hotel with a king size bed and lagoon view, got there to be checked into a smelly and stinky wet carpet 2 queen size bed room. Decline he room and requested a room change with a king size bed and lagoon view as reserved. I was then informed that there is only one room that fits my booking reservation available and I either take it or have no room. Forced to get the room to realize that my lagoon view was nothing but a parking lot view. And hotel entrance view I was then informed to upgrade for $40 a day for a pool and ocean view. I upgraded into a room for a pool and ocean view after my objection landed on deaf ears. I then had to wait with my luggage by the pool the whole afternoon the next day till 7:30pm in the night, the next day before my room could be cleaned or prepared per hotel management ...... after paying for the room that morning. It was one of my worst days there. Worse off, Instead of getting what my money was worth; they gave me a room on the 7th floor where the only view I got was a wall and the far ocean. No pool view and the ocean was an obstructed further view. After 3 room changes and $500 dollars more, I did not get the room I wanted. The customer service was horrible and slow, no AC in the lobby either and was forced to stand on line for half an hour at times just for services or ask a question. Check in took 72 minutes, check out took 42 minutes. One day had to spend the whole afternoon by the pool waiting for a room change. The food is pathetic and the customer service at their food court was horrible. Greasy and stained folks, plates, and spoons. Whenever drinks were ordered - it took 20 minutes to get one; by then you were half way into your meal. The internet service was bad too, no reception half of the time and when you are lucky that it was available, It was so slow that you can't do any business on it Room services and reservations for dinner which came with my package was a waste of time and money because every time I called for dinner or lunch reservations, I was told it was over booked for another few days. Bathrooms rusty with broken walls. My safe did not work in any of the 3 rooms ...... lost $100 dollars after housekeeping was in the room and at that point had got enough of this poorly serviced hotel. Very slow and poorly functioning elevators. Got stuck in alone one my way from breakfast. Scary. Terrible experience at this hotel ruined my vacation experience with my girlfriend..... Will never stay in this hotel while in Cancun again."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Lesley from Verona, New Jersey

"Before I went on this vacation, I read all the reviews I could find! This is what I have to say about the resort: To start with the check in at the reception desk went very easy. We arrived on a Saturday and all 7 of us checked in without any problems. The rooms were all very clean and the beds were very comfortable. The food at the buffet was very good. Service was also effeceint. If you wanted your lunch on the beach or by the pool they very more than happy to accomodate you. The only restaurant that i was dissapointed with was TEMPO. The chairs were filthy. The food was too ambitious. Cinamon foam with fradiavalo sauce?? Really?? The sushi restaurant was our favorite!! Excellent!!! The drinks were very good, most of the time. Service at the pool bar was not the greatest. Some of the bartenders need some improvement in customer service. The beach was wonderful!! Plenty of chairs and tables. The only issue was the hundreds of cigarette butts all over the sand. Anywhere we walked around the resort we were greeted with a smile and 'hola'. i would reccomend this place to anyone. i have travelled to many places and would return to this resort again!!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Mekenzie from St. Charles, Minnesota

"This resort exceeded our expectations. We were impressed first of all by the friendliness of the staff. Eveyone was so welcoming and helpful! They made great recommendations as far as places to go and things to see while we stayed in Cancun. I felt safe and well taken care of during our stay.The beauty of this resort was amazing and breathtaking. Everything was so clean. The view and layout of this resort cannot be justified by pictures. I highly recommend this resort, we look forward to coming back soon!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Jocelyn

"Ok the bad first: The hotel is a little worn down, the bathrooms are a pain in the knees, some room annoyances. The smoke detector flashes like a spotlight in the room at night...directly over your heads. Bring some bandaids to cover the lights like some former guests have done (saw this in our friend's room, so we did it immediately). The bidet and the toilet face one another, are very low to the ground, and way too close together - incredibly uncomfortable experience. So very uncomfortable even for a quick visit, I'd imagine for larger or tall people this would be a major issue. Our balcony was dirty, no plants just dirt, and our first room had many many spiders (heard a few others switching for the same reason this weekend). All the toilets at the resort are low, cramped and old. Our room keys worked sporadically. The hotel is gigantic, with thousands of stairs - to get anywhere you will not be going just across, or up, or down, you will be doing all of these things multiple times just to get from point A to B. I'm at a loss for how the disabled would stay here, a total loss. The lobby is hot and humid. Number system for the rooms is often mislabeled, very confusing, and no one showed us to our room. The towel card system was annoying. My husband's wallet was stolen the last night there, so no towels for us after that. Our biggest complaint was the pool - why on earth would you have this huge, gorgeous pool and make it 6 feet deep through 98% of it. People are drinking, how many bodies are you pulling out per week? :) You'd have to see it to understand it, but trust me when I say using the pool is difficult, there is no (zero) shallow area except the kiddie pool, so you will need to swim a long distance just to get out which would be fine if it weren't 6 feet! Now try that carrying a drink...not possible. That was just really strange and frankly stupid, definitely wouldn't be legal in the states its a liability for how huge it is. No hot tubs. No shade in the pool anywhere at all, that was also pretty stupid. Overall the shade issue was a huge problem, people claim all the shaded chairs by 6:30 am (YES), cabanas are rented out by then ($25 USD), which really isn't the fault of guests because its sort of a necessity I don't blame them for poaching the shade. Umbrellas aren't that costly, why isn't there a 50/50 ratio, the sun in Mexico is very hot! And on the beach forget it, we couldn't sit there since no shade. The bar drinks were good, not real blended fruit drinks but they were decent and strong as you wanted, just ask. The food was ok, the restaurants at night book up faster than we could get one but the one night we did it was good quality, aside from the instant mashed potatoes. Daytime food is heavy, greasy, about the same as good college dining halls, hit or miss. Huge variety though. Ok the good - you're in paradise. Its BEAUTIFUL. The beach is the largest of any resort I've visited, water was clear beach was clean. Be careful at night though, husbands wallet was on the table 5 feet from us in my bag, gone. People selling stuff but not too obnoxious, definitely seen worse. Sand is perfect. The towels were big and fluffy, trash always picked up, food plentiful and staff speedy, funny and friendly. The lobby and indoor staff kind of sucked, not helpful, overworked, long waits everywhere. But the restaurant and bar staff are perfect. The main pool bar was filled with the best people you could ask for, great conversation great service very skilled and helpful, good people. Don't you dare change bar staff! The music at the pools was fun as well. Overall we had a great time, kids would have been bored, spring breakers extremely bored, those who need shade or wheelchairs would have a frustrating time, but for a few couples just getting away for a while it was the perfect trip for your budget."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Dennis Kain from Plymouth, In

"Dearly loved our stay at the Gran Melia in Cancun. The staff was so helpful and friendly there. We just wanted to stay longer. The food was superb, the facilities were fantastic, and our room had everything we needed and more. It was like a dream for our 40th. anniversary. My wife and I would recommend this place for anyone who wants a lot of pampering and fun!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Kris Jaworski from Troy, MI

"The place is gorgeous, This was my second stay there, but this time Check in took 45 minutes. they had 2 people checking in at 3:pm This should have taken a few minutes per guest. The all-inclusive is getting to be part-inclusive. Way too many restrictions now. could not get reservations at the restaurants all the time and when we looked, the place was half empty. It seems like thye are forcing you to eat at the buffet. The rooms and the employee that cleaned the rooms were great, the view is great, the bartenders are great. The pool was very clean. I would like to see more entertainment at the main lobby bar. I go to Cancun every year and not sure if I will return or not. I'll have to think about it. But had a nice time."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Hamilton E Gomez from Tamarac, Florida

"Everything was fine, but the hotel room beds was Uncomfortable but the hotel fix all. the worst thing was the roundtrip transfer from Cancun Airport to Cancun Hotel of my son. I was expecting that my son do not need it. I buy the full packet for my son and you did not sent it to printed. The company who t offer the service does not help and I paid for the transfer."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Jim from Smyrna, Ga

"We had a GREAT time in Cancun. People were wonderful. The place is beautiful! Wish there would have been more entertainment on property. It was nice to relax though. My only issues were that it was very hot inside the hotel when you weren't in your room. We ate at the sushi bar one night. After being in the sun all day the last thing I would want to do is be sweating at dinner, we were soaked,but the sushi was good! . 2nd thing was that the buffet at breakfast was good but the service was very slow or not there. Most of the time we would almost be finished with our food by the time we had got our drinks. And this was asking for them more that once and more than one person. It got to be very irritating. Beside that, we had a great time. Met so many great people from all over the world. The radio staion from Canada made it a lot of fun. You should look into having music at night out there a regular thing!!! Can't wait to return!!!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Diane Mollet from Jefferson, Sd

"We enjoyed our 6 day stay. We upgraded to the Red Level and it was defiantely worth it. From entering the hotel to departing we were treated like royality. We had a private bali bed on the beach, that was our favorite place. Only down side was waves on beach were really rough and we like to snorkel from the beach. But would definately return."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Ellen from Dayton, Ohio

"I've stayed at the Gran Melia Cancun 2 years in a row; it is a beautiful facility, clean and well maintained. Guests are generally middle adult, couples and families; people are definately there to have a good time, but not TOO wild. We were disappointed in the bar service this year as there seemed to be a shortage of canned beers, which were plentiful the year before. By the third day they seemed more flexible, not pushing the draft beer. When we did get canned beer it was often warm, but improved later in the week. There was a definate decrease in the quality of the food in the Veranda; portions were extremely small and side dishes not well prepared. Last year we were able to get salads/sides from the buffet, even seated in the Veranda but this year were told 'no' we could not do that. They're joined together so what was the difference?? It's all included. Otherwise, I would guess it's probably one of the better resorts and I would go back again. Great location if you don't mind a short cab ride to downtown. Even though we were all inclusive, we much preferred dinners out for the quality of the food and the nightlife of downtown. Not much night life at the resort, but I prefer it that way where I choose to stay. Sometimes I want a quieter atmosphere option!"

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler BISSON from CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

"Red Level and all inclusive are very expensive for service's quality: Very hard to made a reservation in a restaurant Poor choices during breakfast, snack and aperitif. Excellent hotel situation. Employees in charge of pool and restaurant manager were helpful and really friendly."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Joseph Pavao from Somerset, Ma.

"We don't know why this hotel is only rated a 4 star, it should be a 5 star. The hotel is gorgeous, the nicest we have stayed at and we travel quite a bit. The beach was glorious. The service was top notch. The employess were well trained in customer service and were delightful. We are very pleased with the vacation. The food at the buffet and in the four dining rooms in teh main building were diverified and well cooked and seasoned. Everything was clean..."

BookIt.com® Verified Traveler Celine from Vienna, Virginia

"I stayed here a few days on my own. No kids, no hubby, just me. I stayed on the red level. All was taken care of, employees were very nice. No fighting for a free beach-chair or a cabbana, everything was available. Colors of the water are fantastic. I really recommend this place if you just want to get away from it all. Just bring a good book, sun lotion, music (the lounge music of the hotel is ok for 1 day, but 24-7, 5 days not so much!) and nothing else matters anymore!"

"OMG!!!! Theee best vacation of my life! The most important suggestion is 'Pay the extra and go Red Level'. It is worth every penny. My significant other and I wanted a relaxing vacation and that is what the hotel is about. From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were greeted with a sign in the front lobby that featured our names and escorted to the Red Level Building of the Hotel and offered a glass of champagne. From the great Conciege Service to our wonderful pool/cabana attendant , our lovely server at the pool. They made our stay utterly memorable. The rooms are very nice. Remember, you don't spend a lot of time in your room. The buffet restaurant wasn't too much to our liking, but we aren't fans of buffets. Our Concierge had made reservations for almost every night of our stay at the various restaurants in the hotel prior to our arrival. Each one of these restaurants are fabulous, including the food and the service. We ate breakfast each morning at the Red Level Lounge. It was considered a continental breakfast, however, there was hot and cold food served. It was all we needed to start our day. Everyone that works at the hotel loves their job and they are all friendly and eager to help in any way they can. The YGI Spa made our vacation more relaxing than ever. We opted for a couples massage and they were running a special on the fish therapy/spa pedicure. Incredible....everyone should try it! Our days were spent at the pool and we reserved our cabana at the end of the day for the next day. We were steps away from the beach and OH What a Beach. The sand is not hot! I cannot say enough about the resort. We are not used to being pampered at a hotel and had no expectations of how we should be treated. All I can say, is that no vacation is perfect, keep your expectations low and you will be pleasantly surprised. we will be back!"

"The hotel at first was very welcoming thenwe were shown our room that did not meet any of our expectations. The room and bathroom were small and there is no lagoon to view, the safe was also broken in one of our room and we had to request a clock be put into the room because there was none. I had also never been in hotel that does have a docking station for an Ipod or not allow you to connnect it to your TV because the menus are not accessable because you are not provided the original remote control for the TV only a cheap universal. The Red Level was not worth the cost or the hype. The check-in went smoothly we thought until we realized that we had been misinformed about what we had to do to get a table at the Sushi place or the next morning when we tried to get a Bali bed by the pool and were unable to because they had to be reserved a day in advance. There was really no service in the Red Level Lounge we were never even offered a cup of coffee and when we finally find someone and ask for a simple Mimosa that was an issue. Now that I have complained some the service we received at the Red Level Pool Bar was great and the same goes for some of the restaurants for the most part. I do want to mention that this was not our first time in Cancun nor paying for a upper level this was just the first time I was so disappointed by not only the hotel but by the servvice"

"Overall, the resort was great. The food was the best from an all inclusive that we ever have been to. Haven't been to many however this was better than the two I've stayed in. The pool area was large with enough areas to sit however not enough shaded areas. The best advise is reserve a cabana for $25 a day and take adavantage of the private sitting area while you are there. The resturaunts are great with good service. The property is well worth it!"

"After getting sick on there food, getting sick all night and soiling the sheets, being charged for soiling there sheets ( 550 pesos $47 US ), losing 2 days because of being sick, rude staff, boring nights because of no entertainment, bugs in bathroom, then upon checkout on Saturday I told them not paying for room service and then found out if you don't pay there prices they would hold your suitcases hostage till you pay.

Our vacation was Feb 11-18, 2012, went all-inclusive with 2 other couples.

That was our vacation to Hades,"

"We just came back from our trip to the Cancun Gran Melia resort and I am ready to go back. It was everything I expected! The resort is beautiful, the food was outstanding and the employees were accomodating and friendly! The check-in and out process was a little slow and we were given the push to attend a time-share presentation at check-in, but these were the only negatives."

"My wife & I stayed in Gran Melia Cancun between 16/12/2011 and 23/12/2011. We had great time and the resort is fantastic. The staff were awesome. However, the front desk staff were stiff and unfriendly unlike other staff around the resort. We spend one day and a half waiting for allocating good room for us. They gave us three rooms and all not facing Lagoon. So I had to be firm with front desk and demand better room. At the end we got what we wanted and paid for but was not that easy and we had to move two rooms over 36 hours to get us the right one. Again the front desk staff were un pleasant to deal with. The other resort staff and employees were very once and helpful all the way.

Some of the al inclusive instructions and information were un clear and misleading. The front desk staff gave us three different explanations from four different staff members to what in and what's out of the all- inclusive package. So we had to keep coming back to the front desk stay in line to re-asking. It could be so easily get something outside the all inclusive package and pay high price without knowing!!



"

"We just got back from our 5-day/4-night stay at the Gran Melia in Cancun, spanning Christmas. Overall, the stay was spectacular and I would recommend it to anyone. We were a group of 4 adults and as such felt the Red Level might be a good idea, and we were not disappointed. When you enter the main lobby and are quickly whisked away towards the Red Level concierge desk, it's very nice to note how everything gets progressively quieter the closer you get to the Red Level wing.

Food overall was fantastic. The most consistent food was actually at the Bar Caribe (at the Red Level pool). Nothing fancy, but they had a great mix of familiar Mexican-American and American foods, all well-prepared. Service was exceptional, and we enjoyed the overall sparse population in the Red Level areas in general.

We read several comments from others with the all-inclusive package being surprised with large bills at check-out, apparently from ordering restaurant items that were not all-inclusive. I'm not sure what's wrong with these people. Everything was clearly marked, and overall there were very few restrictions on what you could order without paying extra. Just keep your eyes open and you'll be fine. And if you keep your eyes shut, our server would often tell us what was extra anyway.

The only negatives were a fairly heavy smoke odor on our floor of the Red Level wing (not in the room, though - presumably coming from a housekeeping break room on that floor) and the Christmas Eve dinner we had at the Ku'Nah restaurant. This dinner was $40 per person - which we were fine with paying - and was described as a 'Mexican Feast' - in actuality it was a 5 course dinner from a fixed menu with lovely presentation and overall sub-par dishes. We were also seated next to a large family with children who brought DVD players to play Barney DVD's for the kids while everyone ate. Not what I expected from a 5-Diamond restaurant, though the live music they had was awesome."

"Our stay at this hotel was absolutely exceptional! The hotel is beautiful! The staff was top notch! The food was awesome! We will most definately be staying here again!!!"

"The Hotel is too old."

"Gorgeous Place, very clean, and very friendly staff. Great customer service and food.
The only disappointing is that not a lot of nightly entertainment and bar is only open till midnight, but then again you are already drinking all day.
Another thing is we booked the red level deluxe ocean view, and only got the red passion level. Love the room we ended up anyway. But the thing is paid for the upgrade and did not get it."

"The resort is beautiful, clean, the food was very good.

We enjoyed our stay."

"This hotel is beautiful, the atrium in the lobby is filled with cascading plants and fountains. there are plenty of sitting areas and the lobby bar is like a giant lounge. We stayed in building 4 which was very quiet. my room 4406 had a partial ocean view from the balcony and was spacious enough that we didn't feel cramped. loved the rain shower and cleanliness of the room. the beach and pool area was absolutely breath taking with plenty of places to relax with drinks and food brought to you. the only con was the constant nagging by people trying to entice you to buy a timeshare. I read in prior reviews about them so I was prepared with my firm no. after a couple of days they recognized you and left you alone. Overall I would return to this hotel since my trip was cut short due to an impending hurricane. I must say Bookit was expedient in securing a refund for the lost days of my trip. Thanks Bookit for an amazing experience and I will be using your service for my next vacation."

"Our stay at the Gran Melia was wonderful. The hotel was beautiful and the service was excellent. Hotel was very clean, hospitible, food was great and staff was very friendly."

"Our stay at the Gran Melia was wonderful. The hotel was beautiful and the service was excellent. Hotel was very clean, hospitible, food was great and staff was very friendly."

"Excellent Hotel, great food and service. The staff was very friendly.

I can recommend this hotel. I am planning to go back."

"Vacation was great. We did the Red-Level and it was everything we expected. Great privacy and service. Will be going back in a few months."

"This was my first trip to Cancun...but not to Mexico. The Gran Melia was impressive from the start, from the escort that picked us up, to the hospiltality from the employees at the hotel. The all inclusive deal was awesome, and helped a great deal financially. Sure there were items on the menu's at some restaurants and certain alcoholic products that were extra in price, but for the most part.... All else was wonderful. I really enjoyed the hotel, the service, the friendly, serene enviroment, and location of the hotel..... I would gladly return and use BookIt.com as my booking agent!"

"I just returned from 4 amazing days in Gran Melia Cancun. From the moment I walked into to the moment I left every details was thought out. It was the most relaxing trip. It was well worth the upgrade to the Red Level area. The private check in and check out, the little extras, the private pools, they even made reservations for us. I was able to get to the gym and it was stacked with all the right equipment and I was able to get to the spa. The massage and facial were amazing as was the water treatment and the spa area. The only negative I can say about the hotel was the pedicure I got at the spa. The girl was new and really didn't know what she was doing or what I had ordered. But that was it, for the money I spent, the trip over, the food, the rooms.the pool, everything was A ."

"This is a great Resort if you are interested in going on excursions and into the Cancun city, but not if you just want to hang around the resort. There was little to do on the resort and now shows. There was a little musical entertainment for 2 hrs each night at the Nami Bar which was great, but that is about it. There wasn't any exercise classes and such offered. They did a have nice poolside music (Dj'd) and drinking games (if you're into drinking games). "

"The resort was amazing, and the place was huge. overall we had a great time and the staff made us comfortable all the time, there were just a couple of issues that came up. the staff/waiters took forever with our drink orders.

then i had a small problem with my room we had the ocean view 1 bedroom the first day we arrived they didn't have any hot water. they were working on the main water line, the next day it worked. Then on thursday we didn't have any hot water again, they came to fix it quickly and then there was no cold water pressure.... so I call the front desk and they fix my issue by upgrading me to ocean front 1 bedroom suite.. that was nice of them, and everything was fine after that.

If I had a chance to come back, I would come back to Gran Melia, and recommend that place to a friend."

"We stayed Fri- Mon for anniversary/ birthday weekend. Bookit advertised an automatic room upgrade for anniversary. However, the resort did not give this to us. Positives- Absolutely beautiful! Bed cabanas all outside to lounge. For anniversary they put real rose petals in heart shape on our bed, beautiful! And they brought champaigne. That night they brought fabulous dessert to our room. Bed turn down service, pillows are amazing. The restaurants had pretty good food. Negatives- They greeted us and tried to hook us up w/ a personal concierge where they began to pressure us to purchase excursions, etc through the resort. The transportation service that came with the package (Best Day Travel) also had us meet them in the lobby the day we arrived where they tried to pressure us to purchase excursions, etc. We had to tell them 'no' several times. The fridge in the room was filled w/ inclusive items, and non-inclusive items. Some water was free, and others was NOT. This was very annoying. We had to read carefully what was included and what would be charged. The restaurants were the same issue- some menu items were included, others were NOT. Some drinks were inclusive, others were charged. We spent the whole time worrying about what would be included, and what would be non-inclusive. Room service was 24 hour, BUT they charge a $5 fee for delivery. We stayed at Dreams Puerto Villarta last year, and it was a drastic difference. EVERYTHING at that resort was inclusive. The pressure of buying excursions through the resort, along with the non-inclusive items here and there made the experience a 'let-down' compared to Dreams. When we go to an all inclusive resort, we truly wish it to be all covered. That is the idea of paying a huge package, so you don't have to worry about even bringing extra money for this and that at a resort! The overall experience was not as good as it could have been, had we not had to deal with paying for certain items. Also, the inside of the resort was absolutely georgeous and huge, BUT only one elevator worked, and they were extremely SLOW, and it was SO hot and muggy inside. The rooms cooled off nicely, but while waiting for the elevators, we dripped with sweat. Also, it would have been nice to have more fun activities for people to do there, rather than just the beach. At Dreams, they had couples massage (FREE) where you sat in a chair, and they taught you how to massage your partner, and then you switched. THey used oil, etc and had music, outside. It was so fun. At night at Dreams, they had different options. One night they had movie night, with popcorn and snacks (FREE). Each night they had a different theme. One night was Mexican fiesta where they had entertainment, Mexican dancers and bands, unlimited Mexican buffet w/ margaritas. They had a balloon maker come around and make balloon hats for everyone. It was a blast. Nothing like that at Gran Melia. It was pretty much dead at night, unless you were at the bar drinking. At Dreams they also had FREE yoga on the beach each morning. So, stuff like that would have made the experience a lot more dreamy, need more activities (FREE) for people. Mostly they had a pool with the swim up bar with party music. It got a little old. Like I said, we've only been to Dreams and Gran Melia for all inclusive, and Dreams was a LOT better experience altogether. Hope these recommendations can help somehow. "

"I must tell you we were very disappointed in The Grand Melia, from the day we arrived. The toilet wouldn't flush and we were SUPPOSE to have an ocean view room. Unfortunately b/c we were on the ground floor and the balcony had a high wall w/ a flower bed we were not able to see the ocean!! Then there was a water leak from the 'bedet/urinal' at 0125a and when I went to check the pipe/hose to the urinal the piece broke apart and completely soaked me and the bathroom was flooded. Emergencey plumber did arrive and fix this problem. At this point I DEMANDED another room and we were FINALLY moved. We are in the process of dealing w/ The Grand Melia regarding these matters."

"an amazing place. views no matter what part you where in where magnifigant. I would come back again. staff was always polite and helpful."

"I went with a mate of mine and we decided to chill out for a few days in Riviera Maya before wrapping up our trip in Cancun. The only negative with that was that the resort we stayed at in Riviera Maya was a much nicer place, smaller, better staff, much better food. Had we not had that to compare it to, I'm sure Gran Melia would have seemed awesome. As it was, the resort was still very nice, the food was quite good too although it was very difficult to get reservations at the restaurants and check in to the resort was a little stressful.

Nightlife in Cancun was good, close enough, about a $15 cab ride away, though I would look for closer if booking again. It does have a golf course right outside but it was too hot to play anyway.

I did have the worst Nachos in my life from room service - which charges a fee despite the 'all inclusive' promise -they were my first Nachos in mexico and they sucked, just chips and fake cheese, inedible.

other than that, I really enjoyed my stay, it's not the best but it's good."

"Well worth every dollar spent. Beautiful room, looked just as it did in the picture. The staff was warm and welcoming. The buffet food was slightly mediocre but the food offered from the menu was delicious. Very Nice variety of food, limited On the drinks however. All inclusive is the best way to go, otherwise it would be incredibly expensive. The pools and beaches were crystal clear, clean and absolutely marvelous. Be sure to tip well, it would surely contribute to a more pleasant stay. Very serene environment, contrary to most Cancun resorts filled with boozed up immature hotel dwellers. Perfect place for rest and relaxation. Would highly recommend."

"Traveled a few week ago with my girlfriend and we could not be happier with our choice of hotel and service. The hotel itself is a work of art, gorgeous inside and out. Luxurious without being overdone. The service was impeccable. We paid for All Inclusive Red Level Service and it was worth every penny. The staff is as courteous and helpful as can possibly be. The exclusive pool and amenities were definitely a major hit with my girlfriend and myself. If you're looking for a place to relax this is definitely your best option hands down (this coming from a frequent Cancun flyer). I will definitely be re booking this hotel next year. If drinks is your thing, I highly recommend the Mango Margaritas, definitely the best I've ever had!!!!!"

"We celebrated our 11th anniversary here in October 2010. What an awesome and unforgettable experience it was!! We were already sold on the resort by the numerous photos on the BookIt.com site, but were absolutely blown away being there in person! Upon arrival, the reception agent was very gracious and upgraded us to the Red Level since it was part of our BookIt.com package. I will start with the environment. Walking into this grand pyramidal oasis of the main building was spectacular! The hanging vines from every floor were unique. We loved the Zen, modern, and earth friendly vibe. We were impressed with the motion-sensored lights, which only turned on when you were close enough and shut off after you had passed, to save energy. Many of their features throughout the hotel are environmentally friendly, which added to the comfort of being there. At every turn there was something to be in awe over. You don't get that feeling at too many resorts. Our room had a lagoon view which was nice even though we would have preferred an ocean view. Doesn't everyone? But the room had ample space, housing a large king bed, breakfast table, even a large sofa for guests, modern features like an LCD TV, and the floor-to-ceiling double glass doors gave way to a very intimate and private terrace, where the sunset can be enjoyed from every evening. The bathroom was very clean and modern and just across it, a spacious closet. The pool area is phenomenal! It seems to cover the whole width of the resort. Some of its features were a children's area, a few jacuzzis scattered throughout, a wet bar, and all of them connected, so no need to get out of the pool to get a cocktail! And beyond the pool, there was the beach, absolutely beautiful. Fine, clean sand gave way to a turquoise, blue-green sea, with warm waters that were impossible to resist. Plenty of seating accommodations here, and if the sun feels too hot, the tiki huts provide plenty of shade. There are 5 restaurants to choose from at Gran Melia, all of them unique in their food and atmosphere, but all of them equally geared towards the highest quality. Without a doubt Tempo was our favorite. This is the epitome of Five Star dinning!! The staff was superb in their attention to detail and to us. And the food was magnificently prepared, from appetizers to desserts, a well orchestrated symphony of flavors. Two thumbs up!! In the mornings, breakfast at their buffet restaurant was always a pleasure, especially since you can also get your eggs a'la cart. Everything was always fresh, from the fruit, to the coffee, to the cheeses, to the omelet that was carefully prepared to our specifications. As far as entertainment, we feel that Gran Melia had just the right amount of it. A few bars in the lobby area with comfortable seating all around and nice, calm music, perfect to enjoy a tequila sunrise after visiting the sites of Chichen Itza and Tulum. We were delighted that we purchased the All Inclusive Package, it just makes so much sense - you don't have to worry about how much money to carry in your wallet - or to carry it at all for that matter. We're planning on returning for our 12th!!"

"We were at this resort the first week of January 2011. I didn't have high hopes, since I had been to an all-inclusive in the Bahamas,and the food there was cheap (buffalo wings, chicken fingers, deli roast beef in gravy, etc.). That's what I was expecting here...NOT the case!! I was impressed with the selections at every meal. The staff was great!! Always service with a smile, and very personable. A couple of dollars go a long way for fabulous service. We are planning to return again in January of 2012, CAN'T WAIT!"

"My boyfriend and i came here for 10 days in march.And it was the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. Everyone was always friendly and the establishment was always clean everywhere. We rented a little hut by the pool for 2 days and ate about everything off the pool menu..it was all yummy! And the drinks there was one batender that made the best white russian and a cancun beach drink..which was so pretty didnt want to drink..but did and it was great. "

"The Best Hotel in Cancun second time Going to Cancun!!!1"

"This was me and my girlfriend's 2nd trip out of the country and this was the best experience I've ever had. The hotel was amazing the service was the best our rooms where so clean. The customer service was so great they accomodated us in every way possible. The lockbox in our room was broke and they got on the problem asap. I would definitely go back"

"Me and my husband just celebrated our anniversary at the Gran Melia and it was awesome! As soon as we arrived it was first class service from beginning to end. We went all inclusive and Red Level and personally it was the best decision. The food was very tasty and of the best quality. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more professional than they were. The pool areas were well kept and very clean as well as the entire resort. We had a wonderful time doing a professional photo shoot together with FotoFrance located right there on the resort. Our room was beautiful with a dreamy ocean view. When our anniversary rolls around again I really hope that we will be able to make this our destination. Thanks Gran Melia for making our special time truly amazing!"

"My husband and I just got back from Gran Melia that we spended 5 nights. The place is really beautiful. I read every review that I could find on every travel site. I glad I decided on this one. We had the best vacation that we had in a long time. Some of the reviews said the food was a 3 star quality and they were right. It's OK but not the best. The pool is awesome and the room was very nice. We will NOT have a bad time if you go there. We met so many nice couples and ended up going to dinner with them most of the nights we were there. It is a very nice place and felt very safe. Some of the waiters at the pool were ruded to some of the quest. Have fun and go."

"I read alot of reviews and was a little nervous about our first trip to Mexico. The Gran Melia more than met my expectations. We were looking for quiet relaxing week. The check in alittle slow , but upgraded to Red Level!! Wow what a treat. Seperate entrance and pool We will choose that again. Everything was nice. Not much night life, we didnt care.The drinks very good. Buffet pretty good. the other specialty restaurants hard to get into but very good. Book them right away. I can't wait to go back next year!!"

"Great resort in terms of cleanliness and staff courtesy. Only complaints are all bars close at 11pm and not really any entertainment in hotel. Found it weird the first night walking into the bar/lounge and found people laying everywhere on couches. Not my idea of a night out I guess. Food was great but if you plan on eating at any of the specialty restaurants couldn't get reservations!! Call before you get there!!"

"My husband and I went here in March 2011 and it was by far the best vacation we have ever taken. The hotel was beautiful, clean, staff was extremely friendly and the food and drinks were excellent. The Mexican restaurant in the hotel was by far the best. Don't miss going there, it requires a reservation. The pool area was awesome and the wait staff unbelievable. We were treated so well and Best Day travel in the hotel were on time for pick ups and well priced. We will definitely be going back soon. Thank you, Bookit.com!"

"OMG!!! I have not 1 bad thing to say..BEST TRIP EVER!!!!!!! The staff is amazing I mean I wanted for nothing.....Marylu-Daniel-SERGIO AND JUAN ROCK!!!!!!!! The food the atmosphere the most relaxing vacation ever.......We are already booking another trip. I truly don't have 1 bad thing to say. I felt like a queen. I did the all-Inclusive and everything was explained upon check in and there were no surprises at check out. I didn't have to worry about reservations at check in Marylu had already taken care of that for us we had reservations at each restaurant.EVERYONE I MEAN EVERYONE at this Resort was nice and helpful. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary and when we got to our room the bed had a heart made out of rose petals a bottle of champagne and a fruit platter. I WILL NEVER GO ANYWHERE BUT THIS CHAIN!!!! <3 "

"Thank you very much to all the staff at gran melia. They are very helpful and friendly . The hotel is always very clean the food is very good too. If you stay there should make reservation for the Tempo restaurant. I stayed there just last week and already missed that place . I plan to come back very soon"

"Let me first say that this resort is absolutely beautiful! But it is Massive, and lots and lots of walking and stairs. I have never stayed at a resort of this quality, and the service definitely deserves five stars. The staff was very friendly, and worked very hard to please us. My husband and I did the all inclusive plan. The food was very good and we were surprised that you could order off the menu in the buffet dinning areas, which I would take advantage of. The specialty restaurants are definitely worth making the reservations for. The only thing is there are a lot of items on the menu that are not included with the package. The beach is just like in the pictures, wonderful, lots of chairs. The Drinks were definitely not watered down. The big drawback for us was the fact that there is no entertainment at this resort, nothing during the day except bingo. The night life consisted of music in the lounge bar, which was way too small for the crowd, though there were lots of comfortable seating scattered about the lobby, and the waitstaff seemed to be on there toes to bring you drinks. I really hope this resorts improves on this, then I definitely would go back again, but as it is now I will try out a place with more things to do."

"WOW! This resort is amazing. Food was great, staff was friendly, and the decor and atmosphere are very classy. Every evening they have live entertainment, it's a relaxing and romantic atmosphere. The architecture in this building is amazing. Streams, ponds, and plants along with marble floors, and big white pillars. When you walk in the lobby you will be in awe. We purchased the cheapest room and it was very large with a beautiful seating area. The bathroom was large with a huge tub. I would give the resort an A."

"My boyfriend and I stayed at the Gran Melia Cancun in late January of 2011. We have both never stayed at a resort before so were very excited and hopeful that it would live up to expectation. The entire experience went above and beyond what we had hoped for, and the other couple who traveled with us have been to other resorts and said this was by far the best one they had ever been to. The food is spectacular and all four of us have totally different preferences and there was so much choice all the time! 2 different buffets every night and ku-nah, tempo and the sushi bar for fancier nights. We have to say that Ku-nah was by far the best food we have ever had! Their guacamole and tortilla chips are amazing! The service is splendid and very attentive! Tempo was a bit more contemporary than we were used to but the food was unique though a little daring even for me. I didn't eat at the sushi bar but our friends are big sushi lovers and said it was really good. The beach is amazing and the service is good considering it`s generally 1 or 2 servers max for all the people on the beach. Drinks are super strong and really tasty and the staff is especially good if you tip and make a nice impression. For people who say otherwise I imagine they weren`t being too pleasant or generous either. The people who work there make around $4 a day so make sure to tip them because they are always working hard especially if you are rewarding them. We had a problem with our keycode door opener near the end of our trip and even though the problem didn`t get fixed until the second time we called, every time we made it known we had a problem someone was at our door within 5 minutes and checked on the situation and our feelings periodically in between fixes. It turned out to be our fault that the door wasn`t working anyways so I can`t blame them for not fixing it the first time. Overall I can`t imagine a better experience at a hotel! We are trying to decide where to go next year and it`s hard to think of somewhere we would rather go than right back to the Gran Melia. If you have a chance, take an excursion and venture downtown on the bus for $1 U.S for some amazing shows, bars and upscale shopping at their malls and boutiques including Louie Vuitton, Gucci, Harry Rosen and more. It is VERY safe and cabs will pick you up downtown after your adventures or shopping and take you anywhere for $10 so it`s a easy and relaxed experience."

"It was fantastic. We loved every minute of it!!! Pool water was too cold for us, but not for some. Loved the food. We left a camera in our room not locked in our safe and we were alerted by hotel security to lock it up. Loved the honesty of house keeping. Would go back in a heart beat. "

"It was fantastic. We loved every minute of it!!! Pool water too cold for us but not for some. Loved the food. We left a camera in our room not locked in our safe and we were alerted by hotel security to lock it up. Loved the honesty of house keeping. Would go back in a heart beat. "

"My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon and it was such a beautiful hotel! The staff were SO friendly and did not try to push us into signing up for day trips. The food was delicious - the only disappointment was that the desserts were not that good... BUT they did have ice cream. We did the all inclusive - which makes the most sense and there was always a restaurant open. There were even 'specialty' restaurants which made it a fun treat. It was included, but different from going to the main dining hall.The lobby's hanging gardens were gorgeous and the atmosphere was very chic. The pool was huge and clean with plenty of chairs. The view was great - and the ocean was right there. We received a fruit platter in our room the first night and on our last night, sushi was put in our room! Thank you for a wonderful trip!!!!"

"My husband and I purchased this sort of spur of the moment not knowing it would turn out to be the trip of a lifetime. The room and accompanying patio and bathroom were immaculate and wonderful. For us the highlights of staying at the Gran Melia were: how comfortable the staff always made us feel, how thoroughly genuinely caring, thoughtful and attentive they are; the consistently superb food; the wonderful beach and the fact that there was entertainment yet the overall hotel experience was one of basic quietude. What I mean by that is most of the time we heard nothing which was restive and by 10:30PM or 11Pm we never heard sounds of any entertainment at all which we appreciated so we could sleep. We never heard people in other rooms during the stay. The people made us feel like members of the Gran Melia family. I tried to get Bookit on the phone prior to leaving to have a better understanding of my benefits and was shocked when I called no one answered. Maybe I waited to late in the week. However I am indebted to Bookit.com for this memorable experience. "

"To begin, I have never seen such a stunning lobby! I could have sat in the lobby all day just starring at the greenery! Our rooms were so nice and clean with the best ocean view...that is a must. The beds were great I slept like a baby! One thing that I really enjoyed is how private our balconies were. The staff was incredible. Now as far as the food, Breakfast they a buffet and I am not a big of those however, I was pleasantly surprised at what they had to offer. I really like the cooking stations. Everyday we just ordered lunch by the pool and was so surprised how good it was. You have to try their ceviche. It was the best I have ever had. We tried all the restaurants and the sushi bar was my all time favorite and it is located in the lobby with amazing views and live music! Make sure and order a Pina Colada by the pool..they were the best! The pool was amazing with amazing view of the beach. I was so shocked that the beach was so pretty there. The water looked like a picture that had been photo shopped. One other thing you must do there is go to their spa. I had the best massage there every and used all their amenities like the whirlpool, sauna and steam room! I would have to say I will definitely return and will definitely book my next trip through bookit.com!"

"O'la como si?!!!...that is what u heard everytime u passed a staff memeber at this resort. They was so much hospitality and pleasantness. The food was excellent nothing like I have ever eaten before..this food back her in USA is a joke..the authenticy was amazing..the room service was good and the staff was very thural when cleanin the rooms everyday and they also provided turn down service which I thought was great. Markets and other attractions was easy to get to either in a cab or on the bus which was an experience within itz self..There was 7 of us that went and we all enjoyed ourself to the fullest! Thanks Gran Melia for providing us with an experience that we wil never forget!...O di os..amigo:)"

"This hotel had everything I wanted. Luxury, hospitality, and relaxation!! The beach was gorgeous and water sparkling blue. The staff went out of their way to help us with our needs. Food was great! It's less than 5 min to downtown Cancun and directly across the street from Aqua World. I will return and recommend to friends!!!"